Melanie Safka net worth is
$145 million
Melanie Safka Wiki Biography
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk, best known simply as Melanie Safka, is a singer-songwriter born on 3rd February 1947 in Astoria, Queens, New York City USA. The peak of her popularity was in the late ‘60s and during the ‘70s when she released some of her most popular hits such as “Brand New Key”, “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma”, “Ruby Tuesday” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”.
Have you ever wondered how rich Melanie Safka is? According to sources it has been estimated that Melanie Safka’s overall net worth is $145 million, acquired during a long and prosperous musical career which started in the late ‘60s. Since she continues to be active to the present day, her net worth continues to be maintained.
Melanie Safka Net Worth $145 million
Melanie was born into a family of mixed descent; her father was of Ukranian ancestry and her mother, who was a jazz singer, was of Italian heritage. She made her first singing appearance when she was just four years old – performing the song “Gimme a Little Kiss” on the radio show “Live Like a Millionaire”. She was educated at Long Branch High School, and later moved to Red Bank High School in New Jersey. After matriculating in 1964, Safka performed at a coffee house in New Jersey, but at the insistence of her parent she enrolled college – the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York where she studied acting. During her studies she sang in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village, and earned her first recording contract, with Columbia Records under which she released two singles. Her next contract was with Buddah Records, and she released “Bobo’s Party” (1969) which brought her acknowledgement and popularity across Europe, reaching no.1 in France, and certainly establishing her net worth.
Melanie gained more popularity as her debut album was released, and positively reviewed by Billboard. In 1969, Safka was one of just three solo women who had a performance at the Woodstock Festival, which inspired her hit song “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. The song became a hit across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, and reached the Top Ten list in America, reaching no.6 on the Billboard singles chart. Some of her later notable hits include “Peace Will Come (According to Plan)”, and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday”, which added to her net worth.
After leaving Buddah Records, Melanie formed her own label “Neighborhood Records” in 1971 and produced her biggest US hit the 1972 number one “Brand New Key” (“The Roller Skate Song”), which sold more than three million copies, despite being banned by several radio stations due to alleged sexual innuendo in the lyrics. Soon followed “Ring the Living Bell”, “The Nickel Song” and many others. Safka was voted Billboard’s no.1 Top Female Vocalist in 1972 and scored two gold albums and a gold single for “Brand New Key”. In 1973 she launched another Top 40 single “Bitter Bad”, followed by “Together Alone” and a cover of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, consistently building her net worth.
It was then that she decided to put her career on the backburner in order to raise a family. Her later career includes a 1976 album “Photograph” and writing music for theatrical musicals such as “Ace of Diamonds”. She received an Emmy Award in 1989 for the lyrics in “The First Time I Loved Forever”, which became the theme song for TV series “Beauty and the Beast”. Her more recent albums include “Paled By Dimmer Light”(2004), “Ever Since You Never Heard Of Me” (2010) and “1984”(2015). In 2015 she received the Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award at the AMG Heritage Awards.
Privately, Melanie was married to record producer Peter Schekeryk from 1970 until his death in 2010. The couple had three children.
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | My idea about songs is that once you write them, you have very little say in their life afterward. It's a lot like having a baby. You conceive a song, deliver it, and then give it as good a start as you can. After that, it's on its own. People will take it any way they want to take it. |
2 | There's nothing nicer than singing an unnecessary peace song. |
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Her favorite songs are "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding, "Down To Zero" by Joan Armatrading, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood, "Avalon" by Roxy Music, "Sea Of Love" by Marty Wilde, "I'm Going To Make You Love Me" by Diana Ross /The Supremes/The Temptations, "God Bless The Child" by Billie Holiday, "Fairytale Of New York" by Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues and "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" by Randy Newman. (Source: BBC Radio 2 "Tracks of My Years"). |
2 | She has two grandchildren. |
3 | She has two daughters, Leilah (born October 3, 1973) and Jeordie (born March 27, 1975), and a son, Beau Jarred (born September 11, 1981). |
4 | Member of the Libertarian Party. |
5 | Recorded several hit records in the late 1960s and early 1970s including "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) which peaked at # six on the Billboard charts and "Brand New Key" which hit # one. |
6 | Noted pop and folk singer, performed at the original Woodstock rock festival in 1969. |
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2016 writer - 1 episode, 2016 | ||
Atop the Fourth Wall | 2008-2015 | TV Series writer - 8 episodes | |
Northern Soul | 2014 | performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" | |
The Little Death | 2014 | performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka | |
The Bridge | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013 | ||
Hell on Wheels Gang Girls Forever | 2012 | Short writer: "Brand New Key" - as Safka, Melanie | |
Carmina o revienta | 2012 | performer: "I Will Survive" - as Melanie Safka | |
Diddy Movies | 2012 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
A Few Best Men | 2011 | writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka | |
Raising Hope | 2011 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
Doctors | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010 | ||
Jackass 3D | 2010 | Documentary performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka | |
Hung | 2010 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
Wer hat Angst vor Wilhelm Reich? | 2009 | TV Movie documentary lyrics: "Beautiful People" - as Melanie Safka | |
Taking Woodstock | 2009 | performer: "Beautiful People" / writer: "Beautiful People" - as Melanie Safka | |
Die Anruferin | 2007 | performer: "Beautiful People" / writer: "Beautiful People" | |
Doctor Who | 2006 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
Cold Case | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2006 writer - 1 episode, 2006 | ||
Evil Aliens | 2005 | writer: "Combine Harvester Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka | |
Inside Deep Throat | 2005 | Documentary performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as Melanie Safka | |
Imaginary Heroes | 2004 | writer: "Tonight's the Kind of Night" - as Melanie Safka | |
Kuka lohduttaisi Viiviä? | 2001 | TV Movie writer: "Mulla on uudet rullaluistimet Brand new key" - as Safka Melanie | |
Mystery Science Theater 3000 | 1998 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
Chicago Hope | TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1997 writer - 1 episode, 1997 | ||
Boogie Nights | 1997 | performer: "Brand New Key" / writer: "Brand New Key" - as M. Safka | |
Household Saints | 1993 | performer: "Lay Down Candles in the Wind" / writer: "Lay Down Candles in the Wind" | |
Woodstock: The Lost Performances | 1990 | Video documentary performer: "Birthday of the Sun" - as Melanie Schekeryk / writer: "Birthday of the Sun" - as Melanie Schekeryk | |
Beauty and the Beast | 1989 | TV Series lyrics - 1 episode | |
Helsinki Napoli All Night Long | 1987 | "To Be A Star" | |
John Wilson's Mini-Musicals | 1981 | Video writer: "Brand New Key" | |
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour | TV Series writer - 2 episodes, 1977 performer - 1 episode, 1977 | ||
Top of the Pops | 1976 | TV Series writer - 5 episodes | |
Dolly | 1976 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
The Ernie Sigley Show | 1974 | TV Series writer - 2 episodes | |
Hitler's Harlot | 1973 | writer: "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma" - uncredited | |
The Graham Kennedy Show | 1973 | TV Series writer - 2 episodes | |
R.P.M. | 1970 | performer: "Stop! I Don't Wanna' Hear It Anymore", "We Don't Know Where We're Goin'" / writer: "We Don't Know Where We're Goin'" | |
The Johnny Cash Show | 1969 | TV Series performer - 1 episode |
Composer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Beauty and the Beast | 1989 | TV Series 1 episode | |
All the Right Noises | 1971 |
Music Department
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
All the Right Noises | 1971 | composer: songs / singer: songs |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Singer-Songwriters at the BBC | 2016 | TV Mini-Series | Herself |
The Artists Music Guild Presents: The 2015 AMG Heritage Awards 5th Year Spectacular | 2016 | TV Movie | Herself - Performer |
Greenwich Village: Music That Defined a Generation | 2012 | Documentary | Herself |
Music Interview Corner: Webisodes | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Panalist |
Die ultimative Chartshow | 2009 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Woodstock Diary | 1994 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
Woodstock: The Lost Performances | 1990 | Video documentary | Herself |
20 Years After: A Woodstock Reunion | 1989 | Video | Herself |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1970-1978 | TV Series | Herself - Vocalist / Herself |
NBC Special Treat | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
The Midnight Special | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
New American Bandstand 1965 | 1970-1977 | TV Series | Herself |
In Concert | 1973 | TV Series | Herself |
Glastonbury Fayre | 1972 | Documentary | Herself |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1969-1972 | TV Series | Herself |
Top of the Pops | 1972 | TV Series | |
In Concert | 1972 | TV Series | Herself |
The Ed Sullivan Show | 1970-1971 | TV Series | Singer |
The David Frost Show | 1971 | TV Series | Herself |
The Johnny Cash Show | 1969-1970 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Singer |
Disco 2 | 1970 | TV Series | Herself |
The Everly Brothers Show | 1970 | TV Series | Herself |
Beat-Club | 1969 | TV Series |
Archive Footage
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics | Beauty and the Beast (1987) |
Known for movies
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